Daily Catholic Mass Readings for June 2, 2020

First Reading: 2 Peter 3.12-15a, 17-18

¹²waiting for, and hurrying toward, the advent of the day of the Lord, by which the burning heavens shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt from the heat of the fire¹³Yet truly, in accord with his promises, we are looking forward to the new heavens and the new earth, in which justice lives¹⁴Therefore, most beloved, while awaiting these things, be diligent, so that you may be found to be immaculate and unassailable before him, in peace¹⁵And let the longsuffering of our Lord be considered salvation, as also our most beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you¹⁷But since you, brothers, know these things beforehand, be cautious, lest by being drawn into the error of the foolish, you may fall away from your own steadfastness¹⁸Yet truly, increase in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory, both now and in the day of eternity. Amen

Psalm 90

Psalms

Chapter 90

¹A prayer of Moses, the man of God. O Lord, you have been our refuge from generation to generation²Before the mountains became, or the land was formed along with the world: from ages past, even to all ages, you are God³And, lest man be turned aside in humiliation, you have said: Be converted, O sons of men⁴For a thousand years before your eyes are like the days of yesterday, which have passed by, and they are like a watch of the night⁵which was held for nothing: so their years shall be⁶In the morning, he may pass away like grass; in the morning, he may flower and pass away. In the evening, he will fall, and harden, and become dry⁷For, at your wrath, we have withered away, and we have been disturbed by your fury⁸You have placed our iniquities in your sight, our age in the illumination of your countenance⁹For all our days have faded away, and at your wrath, we have fainted. Our years will be considered to be like a spider’s web¹⁰The days of our years in them are seventy years. But in the powerful, they are eighty years, and more of these are with hardship and sorrow. For mildness has overwhelmed us, and we shall be corrected¹¹Who knows the power of your wrath? And, before fear, can your wrat¹²be numbered? So make known your right hand, along with men learned in heart, in wisdom¹³Return, O Lord, how long? And may you be persuaded on behalf of your servants¹⁴We were filled in the morning with your mercy, and we exulted and delighted all our days¹⁵We have been rejoicing, because of the days in which you humbled us, because of the years in which we saw evils¹⁶Look down upon your servants and upon their works, and direct their sons¹⁷And may the splendor of the Lord our God be upon us. And so, direct the works of our hands over us; direct even the work of our hands

Gospel: Mark 12.13-17

Mark

Chapter 12

¹³And they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to him, so that they might trap him with words¹⁴And these, arriving, said to him: "Teacher, we know that you are truthful and that you do not favor anyone; for you do not consider the appearance of men, but you teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to give the tribute to Caesar, or should we not give it?¹⁵And knowing their skill in deception, he said to them: "Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius, so that I may see it.¹⁶And they brought it to him. And he said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar’s.¹⁷So in response, Jesus said to them, "Then render to Caesar, the things that are of Caesar; and to God, the things that are of God." And they wondered over him

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are reminded of the delicate balance between our earthly responsibilities and our heavenly aspirations. The second reading from 2 Peter encourages us to live with hope and diligence, awaiting the promise of a new heavens and a new earth. It reminds us that while we journey through this life, we must grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Gospel from Mark presents Jesus being tested with a question about taxes, to which He responds by distinguishing between what belongs to Caesar and what belongs to God. His answer underscores the importance of fulfilling our earthly duties while remaining steadfast in our devotion to God. The context of these readings is rooted in the early Christian experience. Peter’s letter addresses a community awaiting the Lord’s return, urging them to live virtuously and remain faithful despite the challenges of the present age. Mark’s Gospel, on the other hand, captures a moment where Jesus is confronted by those seeking to trap Him with a politically charged question. His response not only defuses the tension but also provides a timeless principle for living as disciples in a world that often demands our allegiance. These readings invite us to reflect on how we navigate the dual realities of our lives. We are called to be responsible citizens in the world, fulfilling our obligations and contributing to the common good. At the same time, we are called to be faithful followers of Christ, prioritizing His will and living in a way that reflects His love and justice. The moral lesson here is clear: our ultimate allegiance is to God, but this does not excuse us from engaging with the world around us. Rather, it should inspire us to live with integrity, rendering to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. As we apply this to our daily lives, let us strive to live in such a way that our faith informs every aspect of our existence. May we be diligent in growing closer to Christ, even as we fulfill our duties in the world. May we remember that our true citizenship is in heaven, and may we live in a way that reflects the hope and joy of that eternal promise.